Circuit closer



Aug 21,1923. 1,465,465

I J. J. DUFFIE CIRCUIT CLOSER Original Filed July 1913.

E53. 152 j [IV YEA/ZOE IfDuFF/E surrounding medium,

water, afl'ects equally two movable members Patented Aug. 21, 1 923.

C RCUIT Application filed m 9, 191s, Serial No. 244,092.

useful Improvements in Circuit Closers, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to circuit closers and more particularly to a thermostatically controlled circuit closing means especially adapted for'use in connection with submarine mines, although the device is obviouslyosuscep'tible to other applications.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a thermostatic device of the above character which will automatically maintaln a uniform distance between two contact points'in an electric circuit, notwithstanding variations intemperature of the surrounding medium. Another'object of this invention resides in the provision of a reliable and eflicient thermostatic device which iscapable of ready and delicate adjustments and is dependable in operation under trying'working conditions. i A further object of this invention. is to provide a thermostatic circuit closing device of simple and practical construction especially adapted for use in connection with an'electric firing circuit for exploding submarine mines. 7 q

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and r in part indicated in connectiontherewith by the following analysis of this invention. I

This invention accordingly consists in th features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in therelative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more com pletely outlined herein. 7

My invention concerns especially an improved thermostatically controlled means to be used in connection with circuit closers for anfactuated orfiring circuit ofa subthat any variations in temperature of the particularly carrying contacts or circuit closing -means. However, ,on the closing of an actuating circuit, due todisturbances outside the mine or toltheoperation of a. switch at ashore station, the thermostatic attachment to one or firing circuit.

the

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

7 JOHN J. ovum, or BERKELEY,

cIosEn, Renewed January 11, 1922. Serial no. 528,588.

of thecontact carrying members is affected, causing such contact carrying member to move relatively to the first contact carrying member, whereby I after a predetermined inbe brought togetherito closethe actuated Thus, for example, the distance between the two .contactmembers may be adjusted during the assembling of the mine,and the mine may then be used in waters ofanytemperature. Any variations "in temperature of the surrounding water affect thetwo contact circuit. closing means similarly and equally, leaving the same amount of relative movement to be accomplished by' one of the contact carrying members on the closing of the actuating circuit. To enable others skilled in the artso fully to comprehend the underlying features CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR. TO GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. j

terval of time the two contact members will thereof that they may embody the same in the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention,

drawings depicting a. preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure,

and in such drawings, like characters of ref erence denote corresponding parts throughout all the views of which Fig. 1 is a front plan view of my device;

, Fig. 2 is across-sectional View of the device taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, the contact arms and the therinostatic coil being shown in entirety for the sake of clearness,

and Fig. 3 is a view taken alongthe line 3-3 of rig. 2, with certain parts shown broken away for the sake of clearness.

, The device in question comprises a casing 5, cons sting of a face plate 6 and a rear plate 7, spaced from each other at various points by suitable tubular insulating members 8, through which pass bolts 10. The

' heads of thebolts rest against; one of the plates, but the threaded end. of the bolts are insulated from the other plate by means of insulating washers 11, the boltsbeing secured by nuts 12, hearing against said washers. By means of this connection, the front and rearplates of the casing or housing 5 are insulated from each other.

Ajdial 13 is supported'within the housing and is provided on one face thereof with suitable-graduations14, providing a convenient means of reference when adjustmg the distance between contact carrying arms 15 and 16, later to be described. An

openin or window 17 is provided in the face p ate 6 whereby the position of. the contactcarrying arms 15 and 16, with relation to the dial, may be observed.

A supporting plate 18 is secured to the rear plate 7 of the casing in any suitable manner, as by bolts or rivets 20, and to the front face of this plate the disc 13 is fastened, as by means of rivets 21. A shaft passes through supporting plate 18, and is provided with a bearing 23 therein, the opposite end of the shaft resting in the bearing 24, secured to the rear plate 7. A similar supporting plate 25 is secured to face plate 6, and shaft 26, carrying the contact arm 16, has a bearin g in this plate at 27. The opposite end of shaft 26 rests in the bearing 28, attached to the face plate the shafts 22 and 26 being held in proper position by means of cotter pins 30 and SI, or other suitable retaining means. To the outer end of arm 15 a platinum, or'other suitable contact point 32 is secured, while the outerend of arm 16 carries a suitable contact pin 33, adapted to coact with the contact point 32 to close an actuated or liring circuit of the mine when the arm 15 is moved around adjacent thev arm 16.

A bi-metallic thermostatic coil 3 L surrounds shaft 22 and is secured thereto at its inner end, the outer end of said coil being adjustably held in a lug 35 by means of a set screw 36. A similar bi-metallic thermostatic coil 37 surrounds the lower end of shaft 26, the inner end of the coil being secured to the shaft 26, the outer end of the coil being adj ustably secured by a lug and set screw not shown. By means of the lugs and set screws, just described. the initial position of the contact arms 15 and 16 may be adjusted with reference to the arcuate dial 14 in an accurate and convenient manner. The bi-metallic coils 34; and 37 just described are of duplicate construc tion, being composed of. two metals of dif ferent co-efiicients of expansion. As the coils are wound in the same direction, it will be seen that any variation in temperature of a surrounding,medium will afl ect the two coils alike, causing them either to expand or contract equal amounts, whereby the con-.

tacts 32 and 33 are still maintained a predetermined distance apart. 7

The bi-metallic COll 3a is wound around with a flexibleresistance wire 10 connected to an actuating; circuit 41., and the arrangementis such that when the actuatingcircuit is closed, as by means of a switch 42, current passes through the resistance wire 40, heating the bi-metallic coil i, and cansing the contact arm 15 to move towards arm 16. After a predetermined interval of time. dependent on the adjustment of the arms, the strength of the current in the actuating circuit 41, the character of the resistance wire 40, and the number of turns of the resistance wire around the bi-inetallic coil etc, the arm 15 will be moved around to a position where its contact 32 engages the contact 38, and the actuated or firing circuit 18 of the mine is then closed, acting on a member 46 to eifect the exploding of the mine. Current from the actuated circuit 43 is brought into the casingfrom one side thereof. through the binding post 44; and goes out the other side through binding: post 45, having passed through the shafts 22 and 26. the contact arms 15 and 16, the circuit being completed through the contact 33 and the contact pin 32, when the arm 15 has been moved. adjacent the arm 16.

It may thus be seen that I have provided a simple and practical device adapted to compensate for any general changes in temperature occurring adjacent to the contact members. At the same time I have provided a device which will be extremely delicate and accurate in its operation should the thermostatic heating circuit he closed.

ithout fart-henanalysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal. the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be com prehenrled within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

All matters set forth and claimed in application Serialh o. 185,245 tiled An mist 9. 1.917, and in application Qerial No. 215.970 filed February 8, 1918, both in my name, are

.reserved for said. applications and hencr arc not claimed herein.

I claim as my invention the following:

1. In an electric circuit closer, in combination, contact carrying members, thermostatic coils for movingsaid contact carrying members, and electrical means associated with one of said coils for causing a relative movement of said contact carrying members.. 7

.2. In an elcctriccircuit closer, in combination, contact carrying members, thermostatic coils for moving said cont-act carrying members, electrical means associated with one of said coils for causing a relatiie movement of said contact members. and means for initially adjusting the position of one of said contact members relative to the other. l

3. In an electric circuit closer, in combinatiton, contact carrying members, thermo- 7 static coils for turning said contact carryin members, electrical means associated with one of said coils for causing a relative one of said thermostatiomeans for causing a relative movement of said arms.

6. In an electric circuit closer, in comblnation, an actuated circuit, an actuating circuit, movable contact arms connected to the opposite sides of said actuated circuit, a shaft attached to each of said arms, athermostatic coil surrounding each of said shafts and attached thereto, and a flexible resistance wire wound around one of said coils and connected to said actuatin circuit for causing relative movement 0 said arms on the closing of said actuating circuit.

7. In an electric firing device for submarine mines, in combination, a casing including a front and rear plate, means for insulating said plates from each other, a dial secured between said lates, and apair of circuit closing arms disposed in front of said dial.

8. In an electric firing device for submarine mines, in combination, a casing including a front and rear plate, meansfor insulating said plates from each other, a dial secured betweensaid plates, ad'ustable circuit closing arms disposed in ront of said dial and normally separated from each other," and means for bringingsaid arms together. Y

9. In a firing device for submarine mines,

in combination, a casing, including a front and rear plate, a disc secured between said platesand provided with a dial, electric contact carrying arms disposed in front of said dial, thermostatic means associated with said con-tact carrying means, and means for adjusting said thermostatic means. i

'10. In an electric firing device for submarine mines, in combination, a casing including a front and rear plate, means for insulating said plates from each other, an'

electric circuit connected to each of said front and rear plates, thermostatically controlled contact arms electrically associated with said plates, and means associated with one of said arms for causing it to move relative to the other arm.

11. In an electric firing device for submarine names, in combinatlon, a'casmg includ- 1ng a. front and rear plate, means for insulatrying arms, adjustable thermostatic coils attached to said arms, an electric circuit connected on either side to said front and rear plates, and electric means associated with one of said thermostatic coils for imparting relative movement to said arm.

- 12. In an electric firing device for submarine nnnes, in combination, a caslng including a front and rear plate, means for insulatingsaid plates from each other, an electric circuit connected at either side to said front and rear plates, circuit closing arms nor-' mally separated from each other and electrically associated with said plates, at thermostatic coil. attached to one of said arms, a flexible resistance wire wound around said coil, and an actuating circuit connected to said resistance wire.

Signed at Newport, Rhode Island, this 17th day of June 1918.

JOHN J. DUF'FIE.

ring said plates from each other, contact car- 7 

